Electrically heated dispenser for granular substances

ABSTRACT

Dispensers for granular materials such as salt, pepper and other spices and including a container capable of enclosing the said materials therein and at least one dispensing orifice situated in the container and providing for restrained egress of said materials from the interior of the container to the exterior thereof. There is also included an electric heating means which may be wholly or partially embedded in part of the container and positioned in relation to the interior of the container such that heat when generated by said means can pass to said interior and heat granular materials when contained in the container to evaporate any moisture contained therein such that the evaporated moisture leaves the interior of the container by of the orifice. Electrical contact pins are connected to and lead from the heating means and these pins protrude generally perpendicular to a downwardly and inwardly inclined exterior surface of the container and are adapted to be engageable with an electric socket whereby said electric heating means can be electrically connected to a source of electric supply.

United States Patent Dean [451 May 30, 1972 Malcolm Leonard StephenDean, Omapere Beach, Northland, New Zealand 22 Filed: Aug. 19, 1970 211App]. No.2 65,009

[72] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 22, 1969 New Zealand..l57559 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,476,113 7/1949Ranck ..219/438 1,257,599 2/1918 Hadaway. ...219/436 1,243,836 10/1917Hawkes.... ...222/565 2,028,870 l/l936 Jennings ..222/565 X 2,783,3572/1957 Readey ..219/436 Primary Examiner-A. Bartis AttorneyHolman &Stern [5 7] ABSTRACT Dispensers for granular materials such as salt,pepper and other spices and including a container capable of enclosingthe said materials therein and at least one dispensing orifice situatedin the container and providing for restrained egress of said materialsfrom the interior of the container to the exterior thereof. There isalso included an electric heating means which maybe wholly or partiallyembedded in part of the container and positioned in relation to theinterior of the container such that heat when generated by said meanscan pass to said interior and heat granular materials when contained inthe container to evaporate any moisture contained therein such that theevaporated moisture leaves the interior of the container by of theorifice. Electrical contact pins are connected to and lead from theheating means and these pins protrude generally perpendicular to adownwardly and inwardly inclined exterior surface of the container andare adapted to be engageable with an electric socket whereby saidelectric heating means can be electrically connected to a source ofelectric supply.

7 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 Iuva'vnneELECTRICALLY HEATED DISPENSER FOR GRANULAR SUBSTANCES This inventionrelates to articles used in the dispensing of granular substances suchas salt, and more particularly relates to the kind of dispensers usedduring the preparation and/or cooking of food or the partaking of food,the dispenser normally being available in the vicinity of thepreparation and cooking operation, or on the table where food is beingpartaken.

Depending upon atmospheric or other ambient conditions in the locationin which the dispenser is situated, when dry air conditions prevail thesaid granular substances such as salt, pepper, or other spices, may havea low moisture content such that the granules of the substances do notclump together but readily separate and thereby permit the granules tobe dispensed from such as a shaker with ease, whereas when theatmospheric or ambient conditions are humid or moist, the granularsubstances may have sufficient moisture content to cause clumping ofthe, granules thereby retarding and sometimes preventing easy flow ofthe granular substances from such as a dispenser particularly when thedispensing orifice is asmall one.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dispenser which whenoperating in the manner hereinafter described, should ensure that thereis always available a quantity of granular substances such as salt,pepper and other spices, which will readily dispense from the dispenserin which it is contained.

Accordingly by this invention there is provided a dispenser for granularmaterials of the kind described comprising a container capable ofenclosing the said materials therein, at least one dispensing orificesituated in the container and providing for restrained egress of saidmaterials from the interior of the container to the exterior thereof, anelectric heating means wholly or partially embedded in part of thecontainer and positioned in relation to the interior of the containersuch that heat when generated by said means can pass to said interior,and electrical contact pins-connected to and leading from the heatingmeans and protruding from a surface of the container and adapted to beengageable with an electric socket whereby said electric heating meanscan be electrically connected to a source of electric supply and therebyheated to cause moisture present in said granular materials to evaporateand leavethe interior of the container by way of the orifice.

The container for the granular substances may be of any convenient shapeto suit the particular purpose for which the granular substances arerequired and the quantities desired to be stored in the dispenser.

For example the container may be of substantially hollow cylindrical orconical form ,or boxlike form having a tapered upper end portion inwhich portion there is provided at least one dispensing orificewherethrough granular substances can be caused to egress from within thecontainer when the container is up-ended.

The container preferably is one which can readily be handled by a personwhile cooking food or while partaking of food, although it will beappreciated that the container may be of a size capable of containingand storing a considerable quantity of a granular substance from whichcontainer smaller dispensers may be replenished.

Further, the container may be composed of two parts of differentmaterials, say a base and an upper hollow portion adhered or bondedtogether. Preferably the base is composed of a plastic material.

The container has access means whereby the container may be charged witha selected granular substance such as salt or sugar, and this means maybe one selected from several known means. For example the container ifcylindrical or spherical or conical in shape may have an upper portionin screw threaded connection with the lower portionof the container sothat the two portions may be separated thereby providing access to theinterior of the container. Alternatively, a separate aperture having aclosure means may be provided in the wall or bottom of the container asdesired. In other words it is envisaged that access into the containermay be obtained by one of any of the known usual means for gainingaccess to salt or pepper dispensers. The electric heating means is inthe form of an electric heating element, or like resistance, or a lamp,of low wattage, the heating means being situated within the interior ofthe container and arranged in a manner such that said means is incontact with a granular substance when the latter is contained in thecontainer. Contacts adapted to connect the heating means with a sourceof electric power are provided and these contacts may be of the normalkind used in providing such connections. For example, contact pins maylead through a side of the container, the contacts at their inner endscommunicating with the electric element, resistor or lamp and thecontacts at their outer end portions being adapted to be inserted in thenormal household electric socket which one normally finds available inthe kitchen or in the room in which meals are partaken. By thebeforegoing arrangement, the contacts associated with the dispenser canbe inserted in the socket and electric power switched on so that theelement, resistor or lamp is heated.

The above construction and arrangement may be modified in several waysand still remain within the scope of the invention. For example, thedispenser may have a base separable therefrom and containing a heatingmeans of the kind described, namely an electric heating element or likeresistor or lamp, there being provided connections whereby the saidheating means can be connected to a source of electric supply such asthe usual household electric socket.

Alternatively a dispenser can be provided as described earlier, theheating means being contained within the container and contacts leadingtherefrom, and there may be provided a separate support or a base forthe container said support having a socket arrangement arranged'toreceive the contacts connected to the heating means within thecontainer, which support or base is suitable connected to or connectablewith a source of electric power.

The heating means may be chosen from such as Nichrome" wire or smallresistors or lamps as desired. When experimenting, I have used in oneexperiment a half watt K resistor and in another an 82 K half wattcarbon resistor. I further envisage that the source of electric supplymay be an electric storage battery of any suitable kind which batterymay be suitably housed within the base of the container or the separatesupport or base if provided.

Preferably, the heating means may be an electric heating element whichis embedded or moulded into the body of the container such that theelement does not actually contact the granular substance, but the heatfrom the element is transferred to the substance by conduction throughthe material of the body. If desired the heating element may bepartially embedded and protrude slightly from the surface of the mouldedmaterial.

In another embodiment of the invention the heating means is provided forby an electrode or electrodes in connection with the electrical contactpins which electrodes react to moisture or dampness in the containedgranular material such that the electric circuit is completed andcurrent flows.

The dispenser of this invention is primarily intended for use indispensing salt or pepper, but it will be appreciated that a dispenserconstructed and arranged in accordance with the invention may be used togood effect with other granular or powdered substances.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference-tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the dispenser FIG. 2 is another elevationview of the dispenser viewed in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a view from below of the dispenser in the direction of arrowIII in FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line IV IV in FIG. 2

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal section on line V V of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view with part of the container broken away toshow electrical connections FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, in section,showing a lower part of the container in screw-threaded engagement withan upper part of the container,

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c illustrate collectively an exploded view of anotherembodiment of the invention where FIG. 8a shows a body part, FIG. 8bshows a heating means connected to contact pins, and

FIG. 80 shows a base part, and,

FIG. 9, on asmaller scale shows a dispenser engaged with an electricpower socket.

In the drawings, the container is generally indicated by arrow 1 andincludes a hollow body portion 2 extending upwardly from a base portion3, the combination of body 2 and base 3 providing a container capable ofcontaining granular materials.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings, access to theinterior 4 of the container is gained by way of aperture 5 formed orprovided in base 3, which aperture 5 is conveniently normally closed bymeans of plug member 6 shown in broken lines in FIG, 5.

The example shown in the drawings, may be considered suitable forcontaining salt and as is usually present in a salt shaker, container 1is provided with one dispensing orifice 7 situated at the upper endportion of body 2, wherethrough said dispensing orifice 7, granularmaterial such as salt may egress under restraint when container 1 isup-ended.

Base 3, preferably, is formed from a plastic material such as apolyester cold set mixture, and body 2 likewise may be of a plasticmaterial, or may be made from wood or metal.

In the drawings, the electric heating means is indicated by numeral 8,which may be a resistor and may include moisture sensitive cathodes, andthe electric contact pins are indicated by reference numeral 9.

Conveniently, electric heating means 8 is embedded in the materialforming base 3, and as shown, preferably as close as possible to thesurface of base 3 forming part of interior 4, i.e., the upper surfacethereof. Heating means 8 may protrude slightly into interior 4, and ithas been found that when moulding base 3 from a plastic material such asa polyester cold set mixture, a thin-film of the mixture covers theprotruding surface of the heating means 8. This does not affect to anyappreciative degree, the passage of heat from the heating means 8 intointerior 4. However, if desired, means 8 may only be embedded partiallyin the material forming base 3, the surface of heating means 8 beingexposed to interior 4.

During moulding of base 3, contact pins 9 are embedded, simultaneouslywith heating means 8, in the material of base 3. FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 showelectrical contact 10 providing conduction forming means between theresistor 8 and one of the pins 9.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, base 3 is bonded to body 2,but in FIG. 7, an alternative arrangement is shown where base 3 isscrew-threaded at 11 into body 2 thereby providing a separable base, andif desired, access to interior 4 may be gained by unscrewing base 3 frombody 2, or vice versa.

In another embodiment of this invention, body 2 and base 3 may each becomposed of a plastic material and the various components prepared forassembly in a manner the same as or similar to that shown in FIGS. 8a,8b, and 8c. In this embodiment, which is given by way of an example,complementary slots 13 are formed in both the upper surface of base 3and the lower surface of body 2, and furthermore the undersurface ofbody 2 is formed with recess 12 conjoining with slots 13 adjacentthereto, the arrangement being such that for ease and quickness inassembly, contact pins 9 may be inserted into lower slots 13, body 2brought down on to base 3 so that heating means 8 is received in recess12, a bonding agent being placed between the upper surface of base 3 andthe under surface of body 2 before bringing the parts together, therebybonding body 2 to base 3 and embedding heating means 8 in part of thecontainer. If required, the upper surface of base 3 or the undersurfaceof body 2 may be recessed slightly to accommodate the bonding agent, butthis is not essential to the invention.

Conveniently, as shown, the exterior surface 3a of the base where theswitch for the socket is situated above the socket apertures whichreceive contact pins 9. This general arrangement is illustrated in FIG.9 where the numeral 14 indicates an electric power socket and 15 theswitch therefor, and it will be seen that the inclination of the surface3a, and hence of the container itself, provides clearance for the switch1 The contact pins 9 shown in the drawings, have a shape which is incommon use in New Zealand, and it will be appreciated that the shape ofthe pins may differ from that shown in the drawings, to conform with thekind of pin required and to suit requirements.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for granular materials, comprising a container forenclosing the said materials therein, a dispensing orifice situated inthe container and providing for restrained egress of said materials fromthe interior of the container to the exterior thereof, said containerhaving an exterior surface which is inclined downwardly and inwardlywith respect to the vertical axis of the container, an electric heatingmeans at least partially embedded in part of the container andpositioned in relation to the interior of the container such that heatwhen generated by said means can pass to said interior, and electricalcontact pins connected to and leading from the heating means andprotruding from said inclined surface of the container generallyperpendicular to said surface and adapted to be engageable with anelectric socket, whereby said electric heating means can be electricallyconnected to a source of electric supply and thereby heated to causemoisture present in said granular materials to evaporate and leave theinterior of the container by way of the orifice.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a base portion ofthe container is composed of a mouldable material and the electricheating means and the electric contact pins connected thereto areembedded in said material.

3. A dispenser for granular materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein thecontainer includes a hollow body part and a base part and the base iscomposed of a mouldable plastics material in which is embedded theheating means and the electric contact pins connected thereto.

4. A dispenser for granular materials as claimed in claim 3 wherein thebase part is bonded to the body part.

5. A dispenser for granular materials as claimed in claim 4 whereinaccess to the interior of the hollow body is gained through an aperturein the base which aperture is closable by a plug member.

6. A dispenser for granular materials as claimed in claim 3 wherein theconnection between the base and the body part is a screw-threaded oneand access to the interior of the con tainer is gained by separating thebase and body parts.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container includes ahollow body part and a base part, both composed at least partially of aplastics material, and complementary slots are formed in both the uppersurface of the base and the lower surface of the body; and a recessformed in the under surface of the body conjoins with the said slots,the slots being arranged to receive the contact pins and the recessbeing arranged to receive the heating means.

1. A dispenser for granular materials, comprising a container forenclosing the said materials therein, a dispensing orifice situated inthe container and providing for restrained egress of said materials fromthe interior of the container to the exterior thereof, said containerhaving an exterior surface which is inclined downwardly and inwardlywith respect to the vertical axis of the container, an electric heatingmeans at least partially embedded in part of the container andpositioned in relation to the interior of the container such that heatwhen generated by said means can pass to said interior, and electricalcontact pins connected to and leading from the heating means andprotruding from said inclined surface of the container generallyperpendicular to said surface and adapted to be engageaBle with anelectric socket, whereby said electric heating means can be electricallyconnected to a source of electric supply and thereby heated to causemoisture present in said granular materials to evaporate and leave theinterior of the container by way of the orifice.
 2. A dispenser asclaimed in claim 1 wherein at least a base portion of the container iscomposed of a mouldable material and the electric heating means and theelectric contact pins connected thereto are embedded in said material.3. A dispenser for granular materials as claimed in claim 1 wherein thecontainer includes a hollow body part and a base part and the base iscomposed of a mouldable plastics material in which is embedded theheating means and the electric contact pins connected thereto.
 4. Adispenser for granular materials as claimed in claim 3 wherein the basepart is bonded to the body part.
 5. A dispenser for granular materialsas claimed in claim 4 wherein access to the interior of the hollow bodyis gained through an aperture in the base which aperture is closable bya plug member.
 6. A dispenser for granular materials as claimed in claim3 wherein the connection between the base and the body part is ascrew-threaded one and access to the interior of the container is gainedby separating the base and body parts.
 7. A dispenser as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the container includes a hollow body part and a basepart, both composed at least partially of a plastics material, andcomplementary slots are formed in both the upper surface of the base andthe lower surface of the body; and a recess formed in the under surfaceof the body conjoins with the said slots, the slots being arranged toreceive the contact pins and the recess being arranged to receive theheating means.